None of your business

My wife recently took our 13 year-old son to the doctor for his annual checkup. He’s doing fine. At the end of the visit, the doctor asked my son if he wanted my wife to leave so he could talk freely to the doctor about anything he wished. My son said no. If I’d been there I would have asked the doctor why he thought it was appropriate for him to even ask to talk to my son without me there. I told the story to a friend who said he’d had the same experience.

I’m curious to know if anyone else has had this happen. What’s the source of it? Is the AMA suggesting it? I’m sure it’s justified with some argument about public health.

If it ever happens when I’m in the room, I’m going to ask the doctor when I can talk privately to his son. I want to make sure that his son understands how markets work. In the name of public economic health, of course.